Ursodeoxycholic acid: Mechanism of action and novel clinical applications

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is used in the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases, gallstone dissolution, and for patients with hepatitis C virus infection to ameliorate elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. The efficacy of UDCA treatment has been debated and the mechanisms of action in humans...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHepatology research Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 123 - 131
Main Authors Ikegami, Tadashi, Matsuzaki, Yasushi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.02.2008
Subjects
bile acids
cholestatic liver diseases
colon cancer
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
ursodeoxycholic acid
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Summary:Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is used in the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases, gallstone dissolution, and for patients with hepatitis C virus infection to ameliorate elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. The efficacy of UDCA treatment has been debated and the mechanisms of action in humans have still not defined. Suggested mechanisms include the improvement of bile acid transport and/or detoxification, cytoprotection, and anti‐apoptotic effects. In this review, we summarize the proposed molecular mechanisms for the action of UDCA, especially in hepatocytes, and also discuss the putative future clinical usage of this unique drug.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-9BND5599-H
istex:A328E98AB2004F775CC9A4237042F12631A171F6
ArticleID:HEPR297
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1386-6346
1872-034X
DOI:10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00297.x